William Penn Life, 1971 (6. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1971-05-01 / 2. szám
FRATERNAL WEEK Members of more than 100 fraternal societies, including our William Penn, will join with other millions of patriotic Americans in observing Flag Day, June 14. Flag Day is especially meaningful to them because it is the highlight of National Fraternal Week, whose theme for 1971 is “Fraternals Care.” This year, National Fraternal Week will be observed June 8 through 14. During this period, fraternalists remind all Americans that a rebirth of patriotism is needed during these troubled times in order to focus attention on the enduring values of our free society. One way to do that, according to fraternal leaders, is for all citizens to fly “Old Glory” whenever possible, but especially on Flag Day, June 14. Fraternalists are urged to participate in patriotic ceremonies honoring the Flag of The United States on Flag Day and to conduct special activities during National Fraternal Week calling the attention of the general public to the importance of fraternalism and of the many civic and community services which it inspires. June 14 has been National Flag Day since 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it so. Back in 1885, it was like any other day - except that it was the last day of school in Fredonia, Wisconsin. Bernard J. Cigrand, the nineteen-year-old schoolmaster for Fredonia’s Stony Hill School, wanted his pupils to carry their lessons of Americanism throughout their summer vacation. So, before dismissing them, he gathered them into a quiet circle in the schoolyard and conducted a brief flag-raising ceremony. As the flag jerked up the branchless sapling that served as a flagpole, he mused that everybody should be carrying with them the lessons of Americanism — year ’round, throughout their lives. He conceived a sort of “I’m Glad To Be An American” day while doing graduate work and continued his efforts to promote this idea. But, it was not until Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand had become Dean of the Illinois School of Dentistry that President Wilson signed his patriotism into law as National Flag Day. American fraternalists, specifically the members of the National Fraternal Flag Day Foundation and of the National Fraternal Congress of America, have taken up the cause of Dr. Cigrand. Thus, does National Fraternal Week always encompass National Flag Day. The National Fraternal Flag Day Foundation has made a simple, quiet shrine of the Stony Hill Schoolhouse, and, each year, they too conduct a flag-raising ceremony in the schoolyard, dedicated simply to making the American Flag and the lessons in Americanism which it represents more meaningful to all Americans. DANE WERT “MY ACHING BACK” One of today’s most frequent complaints is agonizing back pain — a problem that most of us invite because of the inactive life we lead. With the exception of the relatively few instances when the pain is caused by injury or malformation of the vertebral column, our aching backs generally can be prevented by a regular program of exercise. In fact, if we made a reasonable effort to follow good health codes, many types of illness would be drastically reduced and the physician shortage would disappear. Part of our back problems probably began when man’s ancestors began to walk erect because the back muscles and skeletal structure seem to be designed for moving on all fours. The simple act of standing erect puts a tremendous strain on the back and when muscles and joints don’t receive the proper exercise, sometimes a simple movement can bring a stabbing pain that may last for days. The pain usually is due to a muscle spasm — a knotting of a muscle that can occur after even a slight strain. The spasm is the muscle’s reaction to a hurt and it often starts an all-too-familiar cycle. The more the injured muscle tightens, the greater is the pain, the tighter the muscle becomes. Muscle massage, the application of heat and some types of medication can be used to break up the cycle. However, the cure is much more difficult than the prevention because if those with such back trouble spend about ten minutes a day in exercises prescribed by their physician, the muscle spasms usually can be prevented. “TURN TURTLE” If you’re inclined to buy one of those “cute” little turtles that abound in pet departments, your physician wishes you would “turn turtle” on the whole idea. In fact, if you have pet turtles now it is strongly suggested that you dispose of them and even the container in which you kept them should be destroyed or immersed in a strong phenol-based disinfectant. The reason: there are increasing reports from all over the nation that the turtles are spreading an infection called salmonellosis. The most common victims are children who play with the turtles. The disease causes nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and sometimes a blood infection with rashes, abscesses and fever. Physicians believe the sale of the turtles should be prohibited. The majority of them comes from southern ponds but even the ones scooped from a pond near your home could be disease carriers. The disease usually develops within two weeks or less after exposure to the germs. Prompt treatment is necessary to avoid complications. The germs are from the same family that causes typhoid fever. At this time, there is no indication how many of the turtles may be infected but the number of reported cases is increasing weekly. For the sake of your family’s health, please don’t buy any pet turtles and if you already have them, please dispose of them immediately. Anything with which the turtles came in contact should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, preferably with a strong disinfectant that has a phenol base. That obviously includes the container in which the turtles were kept. Wash your hands thoroughly if you have touched the turtles or after touching the container. If you have had turtles and any member of the family develops any of the symptoms described above, please contact your physician immediately. “FARMER’S LUNG” Millions, of mold spores scattered in the air as farmers near the bottom of winter stores of hay, grain and silage strike many persons with a disease called “Farmer’s Lung.” The diseasé is much more frequent than is commonly realized. It usually produces severe headache, fever, shaking chills, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. After the initial attack, the disease often leaves the victim feeling tired and weak for several weeks. This time of year is especially troublesome because the mold dust has been settling deeper and deeper in mows and bins. Moving the final portions of the stores causes clouds of mold dust to rise and be inhaled. The disease begins to appear almost immediately after enough of the dust reaches the lungs. Only rarely is the disease lifethreatening, but it is extremely troublesome. And once it occurs, the victim tends to be super-sensitive to such dust. One of the things for a victim of Farmer’s Lung to remember is that the dust often includes spores of the mold Penicillium. This can produce a sensitivity which might make it dangerous to receive injections of the antibiotic penicillin. Persons commonly working in the dust of hay, grain, fodder and silage undoubtedly should wear a mask to reduce the amount of dust that is inhaled. 13
